Bottle cap

ABSTRACT

A bottle cap is disclosed, which displays an opened state and cannot contain contents again once it is opened. The bottle cap includes a cap having a screw formed on its inner surface to be engaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle, a reverse moving means connected to the cap and ascending in a direction opposite to a descending direction of the cap as the cap is rotated downwardly, a rod shaped nut having a screw engaged with the reverse moving means and moving up and down in a screw direction without rotation, and a display installed in the lower portion of the nut, displaying an opened state of the cap by hanging a part of the cap in the nozzle as the cap is moved downwardly by being pushed by the nut if the cap is opened.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a bottle cap, and more particularly, toa bottle cap that displays an opened state and cannot contain contentsagain once it is opened.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, there are different kinds of products that contain contentssuch as liquid. The most general product is completed by sealing abottle with a bottle cap after containing contents in the bottle. Thebottle is of glass, plastic and metal.

Such a bottle product includes a bottle and a bottle cap. There aredifferent kinds of bottle caps. That is, there is a simple bottle capthat can be opened using an opener. There is another bottle cap that canbe opened by turning the cap through a screw. In this case, the screw isformed on an outer surface of a bottle nozzle and is engaged with ascrew formed in the bottle.

The products based on the above bottle caps do not have any specialproblems in case that they contain cheap contents. However, in case thatthey contain expensive contents, problems are likely to occur. That is,the expensive contents may be exchanged with the cheap contents.

To prevent such a problem, various methods for sealing a bottle cap arebeing contrived but there is no method for solving the problem atpresent.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a bottle cap thatsubstantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitationsand disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bottle cap thatdisplays an opened state and cannot contain contents again once it isopened.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe description which follows, and in part will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Theobjectives and other advantages of the invention will be realized andattained by the structure particularly pointed out in the writtendescription and claims thereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purposeof the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, a bottlecap includes a cap having a screw formed on its inner surface to beengaged with a screw formed on an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle,a reverse moving means connected to the cap and ascending in a directionopposite to a descending direction of the cap as the cap is rotateddownwardly, a rod shaped nut having a screw engaged with the reversemoving means and moving up and down in a screw direction withoutrotation, and a display installed in the lower portion of the nut,displaying an opened state of the cap by hanging a part of the cap inthe nozzle as the cap is moved downwardly by being pushed by the nut ifthe cap is opened.

The reverse moving means is a reverse screw rod fixed to the center ofthe cap, having a reverse screw positioned opposite to the screw of thecap at a pitch larger than that of the cap.

The cap has a hole into which the upper portion of the reverse screw rodis fitted.

The display includes a base having a slit with a protrusion formed atboth ends, two facing hanging members having one sides fitted into theslit of the base and hung in the protrusion with splitting outwardly ifit is removed from the nozzle by elasticity, and an elastic means formedbetween the hanging members, providing elasticity.

The base includes passages extended to the center of the nut so thatcontents in the bottle move.

The passages have a diameter gradually reduced toward the lower portionand are provided with a ball.

The passages include a protrusion at one side to move the ball to thenut at a certain position.

The bottle cap further includes a bearing formed between the display andthe nut so as not to rotate the display with rotation of the reversemoving means.

The bearing includes a passage that moves contents in the bottle.

The passage is formed to pass through lower and upper portions and isleaned with respect to a rotary shaft of the cap.

The bottle cap further includes a guide fixed into the nozzle, guidingup and down movement of the nut so as not to avoid rotation of the nut.

The guide includes a plurality of air vents passing through lower andupper portions.

The bottle cap further includes a tension spring formed between theguide and the display to avoid rapid descending movement of the display.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and areintended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute apart of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating the state that abottle cap of the present invention is inserted into a bottle;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a bottle cap according to thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1,illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is closed;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of FIG. 1,illustrating that the state that a bottle cap is opened;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 1, illustratingthat the state that a bottle cap is closed;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating the state that contents in abottle flow out as a bottle cap is opened;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a bottle cap according to anotherembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a bearing whichis an element of a bottle cap according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

FIG. 1 is a partially cut perspective view illustrating the state that abottle cap of the present invention is inserted into a bottle. Partsinside the bottle cap are shown in FIG. 1. A bottle cap 2 includes ascrew formed on its inner surface. The screw is engaged with a screwformed on an outer surface of a nozzle 1 a of a bottle 1. The bottle cap2 includes a hole formed at the center and a reverse screw rod 5. Thereverse screw rod 5 is fixed to the hole and has a reverse screw 5 a.The reverse screw 5 a is positioned in a direction opposite to the screwof the nozzle 1 a and has a large pitch. The reverse screw rod 5 isthreaded into a rod shaped nut 4 and the bottle cap 2 is fastened to thenozzle 1 a so that the upper portion of the reverse screw rod 5 isinserted into the hole of the bottle cap 2. The reverse screw rod 5 isthen fixed to the bottle cap 2 by an adhesive or a heat melting methodso that it is rotated with the bottle cap 2. The reverse screw rod 5 isengaged with the nut 4 having a screw 4 b. The screw 4 b is guided tomove up and down and at the same time is engaged with the reverse screwrod 5. A guide member 3 is formed on an outer surface of the nut 4 andis fixed into the nozzle 1 a. The guide member 3 guides the nut 4 to beprevented from being rotated. A protrusion 3 a is formed in the guidemember 3 and is protruded inwardly at a certain height from the lowerportion of the guide member 3. The protrusion 3 a is engaged with agroove 4 a formed on the outer surface of the nut 4. This structure isshown in FIG. 2. The nut 4 moves up and down but is not rotated.

A cap shaped bearing 6 is provided below the lower portion of the nut 4and the reverse screw rod 5. The bearing 6 includes grooves 6 a and 6 b.The groove 6 a is formed at the center on the bearing 6. The lowerportion of the reverse screw rod 5 is inserted into the groove 6 a. Theprotrusion 3 a of the guide member 3 is fitted into the groove 6 b, sothat the bearing is not rotated in the same manner as the nut 4.Therefore, if the nut 4 moves downwardly, the bearing moves downwardlyby being pushed by the nut 4 in a state that it is not rotated. As shownin FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, the bearing 6 is provided with a passage 6 c thatmoves contents in the bottle. The passage 6 c is formed toward thegroove 6 a which is in contact with the lower portion of the reversescrew rod 5. A display is provided in the lower portion of the bearing 6and displays the state that the bottle cap has been opened. The display,as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a base 7, two facing hanging members8, and a compressed spring 9. The base 7 has a slit 7 a with aprotrusion 7 b formed at both ends. The one ends of the hanging members8 are fitted into the slit 7 a of the base and are hung in theprotrusion 7 b with being split outwardly if it is removed from thenozzle by elasticity. The compressed spring 9 is formed between thehanging members 8 and provides elasticity. Three passages 7 c arerespectively formed up and down in a symmetrical direction with respectto the center in a portion where the slit 7 a of the base 7 is notformed, so that contents in the bottle move. The passages 7 c have adiameter gradually reduced toward the lower portion. A ball 10 isrespectively provided in the passages 7 c. The ball 10 serves to fail toput contents in the bottle through the nozzle 1 a. A protrusion 7 d isformed at one side on the passages 7 c so that the ball 10 is hungtherein. The passages 7 c are respectively positioned to be connectedwith the passage 6 c of the bearing 6. A reference numeral 8 a denotes agroove to which the spring 9 of the hanging members 8 is partiallyinserted.

The operation of the aforementioned bottle cap according to the presentinvention will now be described.

If the bottle cap 2 is rotated to open the bottle cap 2, as shown inFIG. 3 to FIG. 6, the bottle cap 2 moves upwardly and the nut 4 engagedwith the reverse screw rod 5 moves downwardly without rotation under theguide of the guide member 3. If the nut 4 moves downwardly, the bearing6 also moves downwardly without rotation under the guide of the guidemember 3 and pushes downwardly the display including the hanging members8 and the base 7.

If the upper portions of the hanging members 8 pass through the lowerportion of the nozzle 1 a, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the hangingmembers 8 move outwardly by means of elasticity of the spring 9. As aresult, the hanging members 8 are hung in the protrusion 7 b. In thiscase, the display cannot be taken out as far as the bottle is notbroken.

If the bottle cap 2 is removed, a user cannot put contents in the bottlebecause the ball 10 cuts off the passages 7 c of the base 7. In thisstate, if the user leans the bottle 1, as shown in FIG. 6, contents inthe bottle 1 are taken out through the passages 7 c of the base 7, thepassage 6 c of the bearing 6, and the portion where the reverse screwrod 5 is removed. The contents in the bottle 1 are easily taken outbecause the ball 10 hung in the protrusion 7 d does not cut off thepassages.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a bottle cap according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality ofair vents 3 b′ are formed in the guide member 3′ so that the contents inthe bottle are easily taken out. A groove 6 a′ is formed in a bearing 6′and at the same time a groove 3 a′ is formed in the lower portion of theguide member 3′. Both ends of a tension spring 19 are fixed to thegrooves 3 a′ and 6 a′ so that the bearing 6′ and the base 7 areprevented from descending rapidly. Thus, the base 7 is prevented fromdescending by external impact in a state that the bottle cap 2 is notopened. That is, the base descends only in the range that the nut 4descends, by elasticity of the tension spring 19.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a bearing whichis an element of a bottle cap according to the present invention. Apassage 6 c″ formed in a bearing 6″ is leaned at a certain angle withrespect to a rotary shaft of the bottle cap 2. In this case, thecontents in the bottle can more easily be taken out. In FIG. 8, thepassage 6″ at one side is only shown to avoid complexity of the drawing.The passage 6 c″ can be formed in a screw shape, not linear shape, so asto obtain double effect. A reference numeral 6 a″ denotes a groove intowhich the lower portion of the reverse screw rod 5 is fitted, and a 6 b″denotes a groove into which the protrusion 3 a of the guide member 3 isfitted.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As aforementioned, the bottle cap according to the present invention hasthe following advantages.

Since the hanging members of the display are hung in the lower portionof the nozzle once the bottle cap is opened, it is possible to recognizethe fact that the bottle cap has been opened and to fail to insert thecontents into the bottle.

While the present invention has been described and illustrated hereinwith reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be apparentto those skilled in the art that various modifications and variationscan be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers themodifications and variations of this invention that come within thescope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A bottle cap comprising: a cap having a screw thread which is formedon its inner surface to be engaged with a screw thread which is formedon an outer surface of a nozzle of a bottle; a reverse moving meanshaving a reverse screw thread connected to the cap and moving in adirection opposite to the cap as the cap is rotated downwardly; a rodshaped nut having a screw which is engaged with the reverse moving meansand moving up and down in a screw direction without rotation; and adisplay installed at the lower portion of the nut, displaying an openedstate of the cap by hanging a part of the cap in the nozzle as the capis moved downwardly by being pushed by the nut if the cap is opened. 2.The bottle cap according to claim 1, wherein the reverse moving means isa reverse screw rod fixed to the center of the cap, having the reversescrew thread positioned opposite to the screw thread of the cap at apitch larger than that of the cap.
 3. The bottle cap according to claim2, wherein the cap has a hole into which the upper portion of thereverse screw rod is fitted.
 4. The bottle cap according to claim 1,wherein the display includes a base having a slit with a protrusionformed at both ends, two facing hanging members having one sides fittedinto the slit of the base and hung in the protrusion with splittingoutwardly if it is removed from the nozzle by elasticity, and an elasticmeans formed between the hanging members, providing elasticity.
 5. Thebottle cap according to claim 4, wherein the base includes passagesextended to the center of the nut so that contents in the bottle move.6. The bottle cap according to claim 5, wherein the passages have adiameter gradually reduced toward the lower portion and are providedwith a ball.
 7. The bottle cap according to claim 6, wherein thepassages include a protrusion at one side to move the ball to the nut ata certain position.
 8. The bottle cap according to claim 1, furthercomprising a bearing formed between the display and the nut so as not torotate the display with rotation of the reverse moving means.
 9. Thebottle cap according to claim 8, wherein the bearing includes a passagethat moves contents in the bottle.
 10. The bottle cap according to claim9, wherein the passage is formed to pass through lower and upperportions and is leaned with respect to a rotary shaft of the cap. 11.The bottle cap according to claim 1, further comprising a guide fixedinto the nozzle, guiding up and down movement of the nut so as not toavoid rotation of the nut.
 12. The bottle cap according to claim 11,wherein the guide includes a plurality of air vents passing throughlower and upper portions.
 13. The bottle cap according to claim 11,further comprising a tension spring formed between the guide and thedisplay to avoid rapid descending movement of the display.